All ADM Blog Posts Tagged 'QR' - Automotive Digital Marketing ProCom2015-03-03T18:47:59Zhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profiles/blog/feed?tag=QR&xn_auth=noPersonalized Video on Bottles of Beer?tag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2015-01-06:1970539:BlogPost:5737972015-01-06T13:30:00.000ZBrian Coxhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/BrianCox
<p>While QR codes haven’t exactly gone mainstream for a variety of reasons, one company has found a creative way to use them. Argentinian beer company, Andes, has started incorporating unique QR codes onto its bottles that allow buyers to record video messages through an app. They can then pass along the message to whomever they wish, simply by giving them the bottle.…</p>
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<p>While QR codes haven’t exactly gone mainstream for a variety of reasons, one company has found a creative way to use them. Argentinian beer company, Andes, has started incorporating unique QR codes onto its bottles that allow buyers to record video messages through an app. They can then pass along the message to whomever they wish, simply by giving them the bottle.</p>
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<p>QR codes are simple and easy to make. In fact, you can generate one online for free. The reason they may not have caught on is because the user needs to download an app to scan them with. If and when cell phone companies integrate this scanning capability into the native operating system, they could easily become more useful and popular.</p>
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<p>However, this new video capability adds a whole new level of creativity. Businesses could use this in many creative ways to better connect with customers. As an example, car dealerships typically attach branded keychains to the keys of a vehicle before delivering the car to the customer. Oftentimes, those keychains get discarded when the customer finds a personalized keychain more to their liking. Imagine, however, if the dealership’s keychain happened to have a video message via a QR code printed onto the keychain. It could offer something such as instructions and information on available manufacturer vehicle roadside assistance for new or CPO vehicle sales. The consumer may find value in keeping the keychain in the event of emergencies. This then increases the exposure and life of the keychain itself for the dealer. Or perhaps the dealer principal could record “Thank you” messages to every customer that purchases a vehicle. Salespeople could record video messages with their contact information and, perhaps, a referral offer.</p>
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<p>Video marketing for dealers seems to have been pigeonholed into inventory marketing and branding. The point is that video can be used in many creative ways to offer value to, connect with and stay top-of-mind with your customers. I guarantee that the customer stuck on the side of the road in need of assistance would appreciate the ease with which they could use the QR code video to access information to get help.</p>
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<p>If you get more creative incorporating brand, product and personalized messaging into your video marketing, consumers will pay more attention to them. While QR codes and this new form of video may not end up taking off, there will always be ways in which to distribute videos conveniently. Be creative. Think outside the box. Don’t limit your video marketing to just inventory. Generate video content that will continue to offer value to a consumer beyond a transaction. You will find consumers appreciate your efforts and thereby reap the benefits.</p>Offline and Online Marketing Tactics Combinedtag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2014-06-26:1970539:BlogPost:5471102014-06-26T10:30:28.000ZKerry Blakehttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/KerryBlake
<p>Most online marketers will tell you that old school brick-and-mortar advertising techniques are long dead- digital is now the way-to-go. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and other social networking are your friends, and online followers have more income-generating potential than people on the street.</p>
<p>And you know what, they're not exactly wrong per se. There are lots of success stories about small businesses who managed to get ahead of larger competition through the use of…</p>
<p>Most online marketers will tell you that old school brick-and-mortar advertising techniques are long dead- digital is now the way-to-go. Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Pinterest and other social networking are your friends, and online followers have more income-generating potential than people on the street.</p>
<p>And you know what, they're not exactly wrong per se. There are lots of success stories about small businesses who managed to get ahead of larger competition through the use of online marketing alone. Viral campaigns have the capacity to generate thousands of leads; and their costs are almost next to nothing. Creating a social media account is free, plus there are lots of software that can help entrepreneurs manage their accounts with just a click of the button.</p>
<p>But you know what, relying too much on online marketing tactics while ignoring offline marketing can be a bit dangerous for some businesses. Not all people use social media or the Internet, and some might actually find it off-putting to see their favorite stores posting embarrassing Facebook updates every hour for the sake of online presence. You must have heard of big brands committing social media blunders that have cost them a lot of customers.</p>
<p>So, in order to be successful in marketing, you need to employ a healthy mix of both online and offline marketing strategies in your campaigns.</p>
<p><b>Offline Marketing Defined</b></p>
<p>Offline marketing is defined as the process of promoting goods and services through non-online channels such as billboards, pamphlets, signs, TV and radio ads. It's pretty much old-school marketing. Contrary to popular belief, offline marketing is still going strong; large corporations to small mom and pop stores are still using old school tactics to draw in customers and drive sales. Offline marketing is a kind of marketing that most people are used to, regardless of age, race, nationality, and gender, so it's practically universal in scope.</p>
<p>Offline marketing tactics tend to be more expensive than online marketing, so businesses often plan their campaigns carefully so that their efforts both in the real and virtual realms won't go to waste. Traditional marketing tactics are now often used in conjunction with online ones, so that both form of marketing can complement each other perfectly. Some companies tend to place QR codes on their printing materials like business cards, flyers or pull up banners and combine offline and online campaigns. When QR code is scanned it would lead a customer to the company's official site.</p>
<p><a href="http://www.print2day.com.au/" target="_blank"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ou2dKjFnSwvlW9cNrCD4NNI1zaW0cui3qP9V8-h-Z5HDa85OLXhhL2XKxcGayrPOu1msrs2hOctWzzZTx2mQjCxxws5ujnoj/binding_circle.jpg" width="255" class="align-center"/></a></p>
<p>Here are a couple of good examples which can give you a good idea on how you can approach your marketing campaigns.</p>
<ol>
<li><p>Real life ads with <b>#hashtags</b>. Some businesses prominently display hashtags on flyers and newsletters, often encouraging the recipient to post their social media updates with the hashtag included. These customers are then often rewarded with freebies and other in-store goodies. The hashtags used are unique to that particular offline campaign alone, so that it can be easily tracked online.<br/><br/>Example of hashtag marketing:<br/><br/><a href="http://blog.wishpond.com/post/62253333766/3-key-hashtag-strategies-how-to-market-your-business">http://blog.wishpond.com/post/62253333766/3-key-hashtag-strategies-how-to-market-your-business</a></p>
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<li><p>Using <b>QR codes</b> to drive engagement. A more interactive form of engagement involves using QR codes on TV or newspaper ads. The QR code is scanned on a person's smartphone, which in turn, can provide valuable content in the form of coupons, games, and other freebies.<br/><br/>Example of marketing using QR codes:<br/><br/><a href="https://econsultancy.com/blog/63340-five-examples-of-qr-code-campaigns-that-actually-worked#i.1utw7pro08coqp">https://econsultancy.com/blog/63340-five-examples-of-qr-code-campaigns-that-actually-worked#i.1utw7pro08coqp</a></p>
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<p>If you plan to combine these two types of marketing you can design your flyers or business cards the way you want. In case you don't have designers in your company it would be advisable to hire digital printing service to get the job done.</p>
<p>Here you can see some examples of flyers, banners and business cards that might help you out:</p>
<p><a href="http://www.print2day.com.au/artwork-help.html">http://www.print2day.com.au/artwork-help.html</a></p>New Research on QR Codes and Mobile Apps: What Consumers Wanttag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2012-12-18:1970539:BlogPost:4393492012-12-18T18:37:09.000ZCrystal Hartwellhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/CrystalHartwell
<div id="rpuCopySelection" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px; color: black;">Key Findings:<br></br> <br></br> -- Auto service customers are far more likely to use mobile apps (44%) than QR codes (18%).<br></br> <br></br> -- 2-in-3 auto service customers that use mobile apps, use them at least daily.<br></br> <br></br> -- Only 10% of auto service customers are currently using a mobile app offered by their dealer/service provider.<br></br> <br></br> -- Top two places consumers are being routed via QR code scans: 1)…</div>
<div id="rpuCopySelection" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px; color: black;">Key Findings:<br/> <br/> -- Auto service customers are far more likely to use mobile apps (44%) than QR codes (18%).<br/> <br/> -- 2-in-3 auto service customers that use mobile apps, use them at least daily.<br/> <br/> -- Only 10% of auto service customers are currently using a mobile app offered by their dealer/service provider.<br/> <br/> -- Top two places consumers are being routed via QR code scans: 1) product info 2) links to a webpage - typically static, non-actionable destinations.<br/> <br/> -- What consumers want in auto service providers' QR Codes and mobile apps: coupons and ability to schedule online appointments.<br/> </div>
<div style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px; color: black;"><div id="rpuCopySelection" style="text-align: left; font-size: 12px; color: black;"><p><strong>Daytona Beach, FL – December 18, 2012 </strong>– <a href="http://www.dmeautomotive.com/" target="_blank">DMEautomotive</a> (DMEa), the leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, today released new survey findings on how - and how much - auto service customers are interacting with QR codes and mobile apps. The data also reveals which content and functionality customers most desire from a service center offering. With roughly half of all Americans now toting a smartphone,[1] mobile marketing by dealerships and auto service providers is rightfully surging. And DMEa's findings reveal some significant mobile marketing opportunities for the service industry, particularly with their customers' high, overall rates of mobile app usage (44%), but with relatively few of them now using a dealer or service provider app (10%).</p>
<p>"Given the massive adoption of smartphones, it's no wonder that mobile apps and QR codes are very hot topics in automotive marketing," said <span class="xn-person"><span>Doug Van Sach</span></span> , Vice President of Strategy &amp; Analytics at DMEautomotive. "But our survey reveals that businesses that adopt cutting-edge technologies and then feed people irrelevant sales messages, or generic product/business info, are wasting the customer's time and money. People demand real, tangible value, like coupons and discounts, and functionality that will make their lives easier, like instant online appointment scheduling and timely service reminders."</p>
<p>Findings are based on a national survey of 2,000+ U.S. vehicle owners conducted by DMEa's Strategy &amp; Analytics division.</p>
<p><b>QR Codes Sending People to Non-Actionable and Sales-y Content:</b> Less than a fifth of service customers have scanned a QR code. And that modest 18% reported to DMEa on where these "scans" took them (i.e., how they interacted with QR codes) in the last year:</p>
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<tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: 1pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: black 1pt solid; border-right: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Where QR Codes Sent Service Customers in the Last Year</b></span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Obtain additional product information</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">44%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Open a webpage link</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">44%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Receive coupons or discount</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">36%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Enter a sweepstakes or promotion</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">33%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Obtain contact information for a person or business</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">19%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Make a purchase</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">18%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Connect to a social media site</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">16%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Access a survey</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">15%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Subscribe to receive emails or e-newsletters</b></span></p>
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<td style="padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">14%</span></p>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: 1pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: 1pt; border-right: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><b>Make an appointment</b></span></p>
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<td style="border-bottom: black 1pt solid; border-left: 1pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: 1pt; border-right: 1pt;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">10%</span></p>
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<p><br/> Notably, the top two "places" consumers are being directed to via QR codes are product info and links to a webpage. These are typically static, "not much in it for me" destinations, which can run the risk of quickly losing a customer's attention. </p>
<p>Auto service customers also reported on what they actually most desire from dealership/service provider QR codes:</p>
<div class="divOverflow"><div style="text-align: center;"><table style="border-collapse: collapse; border: 1pt;" border="1" cellspacing="0">
<tbody><tr><td colspan="2" style="border-bottom: gray 1pt solid; border-left: gray 1.5pt solid; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: bottom; border-top: gray 1.5pt solid; border-right: gray 1.5pt solid;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;"><i>Service Customers' "Most Wanted" from QR Codes</i></span></p>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt; border-left: gray 1.5pt solid; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1pt; border-right: silver 1pt solid;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">1</span></p>
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<td style="border-bottom: 1pt; border-left: 1pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1pt; border-right: gray 1.5pt solid;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Coupons/discounts</span></p>
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<tr><td style="border-bottom: 1pt; border-left: gray 1.5pt solid; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1pt; border-right: silver 1pt solid;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">2</span></p>
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<td style="border-bottom: 1pt; border-left: 1pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1pt; border-right: gray 1.5pt solid;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Current store promotions</span></p>
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<td style="border-bottom: gray 1.5pt solid; border-left: 1pt; padding-left: 5.4pt; padding-right: 6pt; vertical-align: top; border-top: 1pt; border-right: gray 1.5pt solid;"><p class="prnews_p" style="margin: 0in;"><span class="prnews_span" style="font-family: Arial; font-size: 8pt;">Ability to schedule online appointments</span></p>
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<p>These top three demands ranked higher than all other attributes, including "connecting to provider's website" or getting "general automotive/maintenance info."</p>
<p><b>Mobile Apps – Higher, Intense Usage:</b> More than twice as many service customers (44%) use mobile apps than scan QR codes (18%). And that app usage number jumps to 74% for the tech-obsessed 18-34 demographic. Furthermore, service customers using apps use them intensely, with 2 in 3 turning to them at least once daily. This is good news for service businesses because, compared to QR Codes, which are, by nature, scan and go, mobile apps enable them to forge daily, always-there customer connections. </p>
<p><b>Disconnect: High Consumer App Adoption, Low Service App Penetration:</b> Despite the fact that nearly half of all service customers are now app users (a figure that will grow explosively), only 10% of survey respondents reported that they currently have a dealer/service provider app.</p>
<p><b>Current Service App Interactions:</b> And these 1-in-10 service customers that now use a dealer/service center app reported on how they most interact with it. This data, shining some light on what features they find most useful, provides one window into what service app providers should most include in their offerings.</p>
<p>For service-app-using customers, the functions that they interact with the most (coupons, dealer incentives, service reminders, etc.) - and the least (general car model/maintenance/financing info, or connecting to provider's website) - again clearly illustrate that consumers demand real, tangible value, and actionable info and tools that make their lives easier.</p>
<p>(Infographic: <a href="http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121218/FL31163-INFO" target="_blank">http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20121218/FL31163-INFO</a> )</p>
<p><b>The Features That Would Make Them the "Appiest":</b> The "wish list" of the app-less 90% of service customers provides an even more accurate window into the features consumers most desire in a service provider app. The top 5 are: 1) coupons, 2) online appointment scheduling, 3) service reminders, 4) recall alerts and 5) vehicle maintenance histories. It's interesting to note the very high percentage of respondents that report that they would embrace these key features if their dealer/service center offered them in an app. The data clearly indicates that far more customers would adopt service apps if they integrated the functionality people demand.</p>
<p>Also note: many of the most-wanted features (i.e., service reminders, vehicle maintenance histories, etc.) require that the app be fully integrated into the business' DMS. And since DMS-app integration allows dealers/service centers to send the right messages/offers about the right vehicles at the right time, it makes implementing these features a major "win" for both customer and business.</p>
<p>"Wave one with any new technology is adoption, and wave two is where businesses get it right, aligning their offerings with what consumers actually demand," said <span class="xn-person"><span>Van Sach</span></span> . "While far more service businesses have jumped into QR codes than mobile apps, the former is essentially just a 'door' sending people to short-lived, and hopefully engaging, information. But mobile apps, which are always in that customer's pocket or purse, uniquely forge long-term, hyper-close customer connections. They're the 'big house' a business can build their service relationships on, but only if they build that house right."</p>
<p> </p>
<p>[1] Pew Internet Life, 2012</p>
<p> </p>
<p><b>About DMEautomotive</b><br/> DMEautomotive (DMEa) is the industry leader in science-based, results-driven automotive marketing, and provides turnkey marketing to the largest and most innovative automotive organizations, from automobile dealers to many of the largest aftermarket companies in the U.S. DMEa's uniquely panoramic view of the complete automotive sales and service market, combined with its cutting-edge, science-based marketing programs, increases customer yield, conversion and retention.</p>
<p>DMEa does not take marketing performance on faith, and each product and service is measured by a simple, precise scientific approach: Is it true? Prove it. Will it work? Test it. Does it generate results? Show it! Supported by DMEa's proprietary, cloud-based Red Rocket Technology Platform, the DMEa product suite includes science-based, data-driven, multi-channel customer acquisition and retention marketing programs; best-in-class campaign reporting; data management and analytics; auto-focused Customer Interaction Center solutions, and complete on-site mail and email fulfillment services. Headquartered in <span class="xn-location"><span><span>Daytona Beach, Florida</span></span></span>, DMEa also has major operations in <span class="xn-location"><span><span>Jacksonville, Fla.</span></span></span></p>
<p> </p>
<strong>Media Inquiries</strong><br/>
<p>Melanie Webber, mWEBB Communications, +1-424-603-4340, <a href="http://mailto:melanie@mwebbcom.com/">melanie@mwebbcom.com</a><br/> Angela Jacobson, mWEBB Communications, +1-714-454-8776, <a href="http://mailto:angela@mwebbcom.com/">angela@mwebbcom.com</a></p>
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</div>QR codes – Revolutionize your marketing!tag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2012-10-27:1970539:BlogPost:4255352012-10-27T22:00:00.000ZTony Whitehttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/TonyWhite
<p><span class="font-size-3">C<a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Y5Xuj5PVKGA2YTLBP-kJiYHT011H-m-UeCjLosQO0Kx-R4nlDSwQ5ATwX-46EDRx3mIgCPYgjOvwnOAXHkNfpFW8F5NYKyx3/qrcode.96011601.PNG" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Y5Xuj5PVKGA2YTLBP-kJiYHT011H-m-UeCjLosQO0Kx-R4nlDSwQ5ATwX-46EDRx3mIgCPYgjOvwnOAXHkNfpFW8F5NYKyx3/qrcode.96011601.PNG?width=200" width="200"></img></a> oping and capturing the latest trends is vital if you need to sell in a competitive world. Trends like use of QR codes has proved to be a milestone in achieving desired results. Making a code is not tough; all you need is a code maker and the exact idea of what you are looking for…</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">C<a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Y5Xuj5PVKGA2YTLBP-kJiYHT011H-m-UeCjLosQO0Kx-R4nlDSwQ5ATwX-46EDRx3mIgCPYgjOvwnOAXHkNfpFW8F5NYKyx3/qrcode.96011601.PNG"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/Y5Xuj5PVKGA2YTLBP-kJiYHT011H-m-UeCjLosQO0Kx-R4nlDSwQ5ATwX-46EDRx3mIgCPYgjOvwnOAXHkNfpFW8F5NYKyx3/qrcode.96011601.PNG?width=200" width="200"/></a>oping and capturing the latest trends is vital if you need to sell in a competitive world. Trends like use of QR codes has proved to be a milestone in achieving desired results. Making a code is not tough; all you need is a code maker and the exact idea of what you are looking for from the code. The strategic integration of QR codes in automobile industry has several unmatched benefits. Using these codes is an innovative way of marketing. You need a landing page and this should be mobile friendly. Once your website is ready, you can insert its URL into the QR code and you are ready to rock the business world! Although, do not forget to test your newly generated code with a couple of code readers.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Simple yet unique ideas make a difference and help in attracting customers. A walk around video is a nice tool to convey what you wish to sell. Such as a video of a car will entice customers to know more and get in touch with you. As a thumb rule, more people are attracted towards your business proposal if you have a visual presentation rather than mere textual information. You can use a unique landing page with a walk around video and a fresh QR code, so you can track the traffic generated by each code. This will help you to track in real time.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Your QR code can also be promoted by using various promotion media and methods. The ideal methods are personalized emails, blogs, and more importantly social media websites. Let people scan your code and reach your landing page full of information about what you are promoting. T-shirts, business cards, coupons, and billboards could be some alternative to consider while promoting your code outside the internet. If you wear a button with QR code, people can download your URLs and other information within seconds and this is an unique idea to promote.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">For an automobile dealership, use of QR code has infinite possibilities. You can send customized reminders about service schedules, warranty issues, or even a birthday greeting card. Applications of the code are endless and a little creativity can allow you to explore all features in favor of developing relations and offering what customers are looking for. QR codes can be the handiest tool to generate new leads through simple means yet be the root to sublime interactions. Exploring unlimited possibilities of QR code is both fun and fulfilling.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">by: <a href="http://www.esocialgroup.com/">www.esocialgroup.com</a> (Tony R. White)</span></p>Yes, QR Codes Do Worktag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2012-10-03:1970539:BlogPost:4203742012-10-03T22:30:00.000ZCDK Globalhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/TheCobaltGroup
<div class="entry-content"><div style="xg-p: relative; float: right; width: 200px; padding: 7px;"><p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://www.cobalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/qrcode_blog.jpg"><img alt="" height="187" src="http://www.cobalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/qrcode_blog.jpg" title="Scan and go!" width="187"></img></a></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3" style="line-height: 10px; font-size: 10px;">See our QR Code in action. Scan the above QR Code to visit our Digital Dealer 13 site.</span></p>
</div>
<p><span class="font-size-5"><strong>QR codes are all the rage, but do they…</strong></span></p>
</div>
<div class="entry-content"><div style="xg-p: relative; float: right; width: 200px; padding: 7px;"><p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://www.cobalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/qrcode_blog.jpg"><img title="Scan and go!" src="http://www.cobalt.com/wp-content/uploads/2012/10/qrcode_blog.jpg" alt="" height="187" width="187"/></a></span></p>
<p><span style="line-height: 10px; font-size: 10px;" class="font-size-3">See our QR Code in action. Scan the above QR Code to visit our Digital Dealer 13 site.</span></p>
</div>
<p><span class="font-size-5"><strong>QR codes are all the rage, but do they work?</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-5"><strong> </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">According to my Cobalt client, Lezley Pumphrey, BDC Manager of Motor City Buick GMC, the answer is yes. Her dealership started using QR codes in November 2011, directed at the Motor City Buick GMC Gateway page for GMC. <strong>To date, they have seen a total of over 500 visitors from this new marketing method, a nice bump in traffic. </strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Pumphrey states, <em>“At Motor City Buick GMC, we strongly believe in mobile traffic. Consumers no longer wait for an email response from dealerships. They grab their mobile device, research the dealership, and walk-in. The more mobile presence we can get, the better. We are always looking for ways to increase our QR code and <a title="Mobile site solutions with Cobalt." href="http://www.cobalt.com/automotive-digital-marketing/auto-dealer-websites/#mobile" target="_blank">Mobile website</a> traffic.”</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Lezley is not the only one seeing more traffic thanks to QR codes.</strong> In general, I would say dealers have gotten an average of 50-100 extra visitors per month through QR codes if they actively use them. These numbers aren’t huge, but the traffic is relevant and over time makes an impact. In addition these numbers are only expected to grow as the rise of QR codes continues.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-3">In fact, a <a href="http://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profiles/blog/show?id=1970539%3ABlogPost%3A398669" target="_blank">June 2012 Econsultancy Survey</a> reports that 1 in 2 auto industry marketers are using QR codes to encourage customers to interact with their brand.</span></strong></p>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-3"> </span></strong></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">As with any emerging media, the big challenge is how to educate your clients and successfully incorporate <a title="QR Codes are part of the Digital Advertising Package." href="http://www.cobalt.com/automotive-digital-marketing/digital-advertising/" target="_blank">QR codes</a> into your in-store processes. Here are a few ideas:</span></p>
<ul>
<li><strong><span class="font-size-3">Incorporate QR code giveaways at dealership events</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span class="font-size-3">Add a QR code to the last picture of vehicles details page</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span class="font-size-3">Incorporate QR codes on newspaper ads, monthly newsletters, direct mailers, etc</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span class="font-size-3">Add QR codes on vehicle stickers</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span class="font-size-3">Incorporate a QR code on signage in your service department so that people can scan while they wait</span></strong></li>
<li><strong><span class="font-size-3">Place QR codes on the back of business cards for the sales staff – this way they can see a live view of inventory right away if they need it</span></strong></li>
</ul>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Making QR codes a natural part of all your marketing can pay off in unprecedented ways when it comes to closing individual car sales, but you have to put in the time and effort to educate your sales staff and your clients.</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Just think: a man may be interested in purchasing a car, but he needs to go home and talk to his wife first. The salesperson should have him scan the QR code for that vehicle in inventory so he can quickly and easily show his wife the car when he gets home. In essence, the dealership controls exactly what this man sees when he scans. This can have compelling aftereffects if the consumer is educated on its purpose. The key is to ensure the sales associate informs the consumer on how to later use the QR code.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Remember, innovation and education go hand in hand.</strong> In order to be successful, you need to educate both your staff and your shoppers about how to use these new codes. Start internally at the dealership. Train your staff on how to use QR codes and make sure they are comfortable using them. The same goes for your customers; since QR codes are new to many, it helps to incorporate clear instructions like “Scan this code on your phone to see 327 fresh-on-the-lot vehicles!” You may even want to have a link with a guide on how to scan a QR code. The clearer and easier you make it, the easier it will be to integrate.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><em>Note: Motor City Buick GMC’s QR Codes come from their Cobalt Digital Advertising Packages. They get one QR code per month per package that integrates with their current incentives. They have used these QR codes on mailers, websites, and in the dealership. Learn more about our QR code offering today.</em></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><em> </em></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"><strong>Do you have a great QR story? Share your story below.</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>By Jessica Terpstra</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Cobalt Digital Advertising Analyst II</strong> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Original article can be found <a href="http://www.cobalt.com/yes-qr-codes-do-work/" target="_blank">here</a>.</span></p>
</div>QR Codes Most-Used Mobile Channel For Engaging Car Buying Customerstag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2012-07-08:1970539:BlogPost:3986692012-07-08T21:30:00.000ZRalph Pagliahttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/RalphPaglia
<p><strong><span class="font-size-5">For Car Dealers, QR Codes are the Most-Used Mobile Channel for Engaging with Automotive Consumers</span></strong></p>
<div class="entry"><div class="spreadsheet-link"></div>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/SL-wKs4jm797uj0VdjYk53qjydwa0G8GWuDzkOzKG64bbfLA-vpUozcS2exNIRAimQP7Vj16iXL9bn9H3Lk41se32lHNegId/econsultancymobilechannelscustomerinteractionjuly2012.png" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/SL-wKs4jm797uj0VdjYk53qjydwa0G8GWuDzkOzKG64bbfLA-vpUozcS2exNIRAimQP7Vj16iXL9bn9H3Lk41se32lHNegId/econsultancymobilechannelscustomerinteractionjuly2012.png?width=400" width="400"></img></a> 1 in 2 auto industry marketers say…</span></p>
</div>
<p><strong><span class="font-size-5">For Car Dealers, QR Codes are the Most-Used Mobile Channel for Engaging with Automotive Consumers</span></strong></p>
<div class="entry"><div class="spreadsheet-link"></div>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/SL-wKs4jm797uj0VdjYk53qjydwa0G8GWuDzkOzKG64bbfLA-vpUozcS2exNIRAimQP7Vj16iXL9bn9H3Lk41se32lHNegId/econsultancymobilechannelscustomerinteractionjuly2012.png" target="_self"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/SL-wKs4jm797uj0VdjYk53qjydwa0G8GWuDzkOzKG64bbfLA-vpUozcS2exNIRAimQP7Vj16iXL9bn9H3Lk41se32lHNegId/econsultancymobilechannelscustomerinteractionjuly2012.png?width=400" width="400" class="align-left"/></a>1 in 2 auto industry marketers say they are using QR codes to encourage their customers to interact with their brand, <a href="http://econsultancy.com/us/reports/cross-channel-marketing-report">per results</a> [download page] from an Econsultancy survey released in June 2012, in partnership with Responsys. QR code usage by these respondents surpasses other mobile channels, including creation of applications (35%), mobile commerce (29%) and mobile optimized emails (29%).<span id="more-22519"></span> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Roughly one-quarter are using SMS marketing, while less than 1 in 5 are employing location-based marketing. Just 7% have turned to MMS and 2% to NFC.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Automotive Advertising Agencies show some different patterns with regards to their clients. 54% say their clients use apps to encourage their customers to interact with their brands, while 49% indicate their clients use QR codes. Agencies are more likely than companies to report client use of mobile optimized emails, SMS, and location-based marketing.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">According to a Multichannel Merchant survey also released in June, <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-code-adoption-by-merchants-booms-22306/">merchants are integrating QR codes into their marketing strategies at a far greater rate this year than last</a>. 47% of respondents this year said they are using QR codes, a dramatic increase from just 8% a year ago.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<h2><span class="font-size-3">Search Most Popular Ad Type</span></h2>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Data from Econsultancy’s “Cross-Channel Marketing Report 2012″ indicates that mobile search marketing is the most popular type of mobile advertising used by company marketers, at 35% of respondents, followed by push notifications (29%).</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">A plurality of agencies also say their clients are engaged in mobile search marketing (42%). Mobile display advertising (banner) is cited by 41% of agencies, compared to one-quarter of companies, with agencies also more likely to indicate their clients’ use of advertising on apps (37% vs. 22%), location-based targeting (30% vs. 22%), and mobile display advertising using video (19% vs. 12%).</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Various studies have highlighted the growth of mobile’s share of search marketing budgets of late, with IgnitionOne most recently reporting <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/us-paid-search-spend-growth-slows-in-q2-mobile-keeps-rolling-22503/">mobile paid search spend growing 333% year-over-year in Q2</a>, to reach 14% of total US paid search budgets.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<h2><span class="font-size-3">Display Ad Engagement Sentiment Mixed</span></h2>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Respondents to the Econsultancy survey do not paint a clear picture when it comes to engagement rates with display advertising via smartphones as opposed to via PCs. Among company respondents, 33% feel that customers are more engaged with display advertising on smartphones than on PCs, while 40% say they are less engaged. Among agencies, 35% feel that engagement is higher on smartphones, compared to 33% who feel that it is lower.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<h2><span class="font-size-3"><a href="http://autocon2012.com" target="_blank"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/x8NpU7yVKmR6HU7HD-49kaavw3Y782FtWIQBixQgDShmh2tkguDJqeWkM3mvFJo19ba*QjtHhBjXMqMP9Hr56GNphU5Weo82/autocon2012_160x600.png" width="160" class="align-right"/></a>Other Findings:</span></h2>
<ul>
<li><span class="font-size-3">1 in 5 car company marketers say they personalize mobile display advertising based on location, while 28% of agencies report their clients’ use of this targeting method.</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-3">Roughly one-quarter of car companies are using offline advertising to promote engagement on mobile devices, and a further 17% are planning to do so.</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-3">Automotive Advertising Agencies indicate slightly higher levels of offline ad use by their clients: 35% say their clients are using offline advertising to promote engagement on mobiles, and an additional 20% say their clients are planning to do so.</span></li>
<li><span class="font-size-3">According to Google survey results released in February, two-thirds of US smartphone users who say they at least rarely notice advertising have <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/television/88-of-smartphone-users-notice-ads-on-device-21287/">used their device to run a search in response to an ad they have seen offline</a>.</span></li>
</ul>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Source: <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-codes-most-used-mobile-channel-for-engaging-customers-22519/">http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-codes-most-used-mobile-channel-for-engaging-customers-22519/</a></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"><strong>MOBILE MARKETING FOR CAR DEALERS</strong></span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">The AutoConnections Conference and Exposition scheduled for September 5 through 8, 2012 at the Aria Resort and Casino in Las Vegas is an excellent resource for auto dealers seeking to develop a more effective mobile marketing strategy. With an entire workshop and lab track focused on automotive mobile marketing, AutoCon represents a tremendous opportunity for car dealers to advance their skills and understanding about marketing to automotive consumers using smart phones and tablet computers while outside their homes or offices. Shuki Lehavi, CEO of <a href="http://corporate.gumiyo.com/" target="_blank">Gumiyo Technology</a>, the auto industry's leading mobile marketing platform, is the Chairman of AutoCon's Mobile Marketing Certification Track for dealers and will be available for your direct connection. Gumiyo supplies the backbone platform used by companies such as Reynolds and Reynolds, HomeNet, the Chicago Tribune, Los Angeles Times, Buzzmedia and many others. They are by far the auto industry's leading provider of carrier certified application, SMS messaging and mobile website products for companies serving car dealers.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Over 90% of Americans keep their cell phones within arms reach 24 hours a day. Mobile is one of the fastest growing consumption channels with smart phone adoption rates skyrocketing among consumers.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">With more website visitors coming via mobile devices, it is increasingly important for dealers to have a strong presence in this area. AutoCon 2012 delivers key information about mobile topics such as responsive web design, creating custom mobile apps, SMS marketing strategies, and more.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3">Register to attend the AutoConnections Conference and exposition by clicking on the advertisement shown above... This is by far the best opportunity for American car dealers to develop a truly effective competitive advantage through the implementation of a mobile marketing strategy based on the correct information delivered by the right connections!</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-3"> </span></p>
</div>
<p></p>Dealer Uplink | QR Barcodes for Auto Dealers **Featured** in Wall Street Journal **PRESS RELEASE**tag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-12-06:1970539:BlogPost:3409632011-12-06T22:30:00.000ZJay Martinezhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/JayMartinez
<h1><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Missouri Company Dealer Uplink LLC Completes $1M Capitalization and is Creating More Than 50 New Jobs and Innovating the Auto Industry</strong></span></h1>
<p>SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer Uplink LLC, a Missouri company that specializes in dynamic QR Barcode services and mobile marketing solutions for Auto Dealers, has just completed a $1 million capitalization by its members.</p>
<p>The capitalization propels the 9-month-old company…</p>
<h1><span class="font-size-3"><strong>Missouri Company Dealer Uplink LLC Completes $1M Capitalization and is Creating More Than 50 New Jobs and Innovating the Auto Industry</strong></span></h1>
<p>SPRINGFIELD, Mo., Dec. 6, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- Dealer Uplink LLC, a Missouri company that specializes in dynamic QR Barcode services and mobile marketing solutions for Auto Dealers, has just completed a $1 million capitalization by its members.</p>
<p>The capitalization propels the 9-month-old company to additional growth throughout USA, Canada, Mexico, and the UK. <a href="http://dealeruplink.com" target="_blank">Dealer Uplink</a>will add more than 50 high-tech jobs over the next 36 months. The majority of these jobs will be located in downtown Springfield, Missouri with additional positions scattered throughout 28 regions in North America.</p>
<p>"We have created an innovative way for auto dealerships to better inform potential customers of their advantages as well as providing customers an instant way to validate and buy a vehicle from their smartphone. This capitalization will spearhead our corporate messaging, giving more room for auto dealerships to capitalize on our technologies to capture the next generation of auto buyers," said <a href="http://dealeruplink.com/leadership" target="_blank">Jay Martinez</a>, CEO.</p>
<p>QR Codes have been around since the mid 90's and are being implemented globally as a marketing tool for businesses to take their message to the masses using smartphone technology. Dealer Uplink started innovating around the existing technology in early 2011.</p>
<p>President <a href="http://dealeruplink.com/leadership" target="_blank">George J Lamelza III</a>said, "Hard work, innovation, and the entrepreneurial spirit will be what changes the current economic climate. Dealer Uplink embodies all of that and is why others believe in the effectiveness of our service and will stand with us as we add new jobs into the economy, putting Missouri and the nation back to work."</p>
<p>About Dealer UplinkDealer Uplink offers an interactive smartphone solution for the auto industry with the focus of giving auto dealerships the advantage in a new media marketplace. Dealer Uplink is known specifically for the turnkey deployment of QR Barcodes as a marketing tool through the Quick Display Network (QDN). This unique delivery provides auto dealerships real-time lead generation and analytics while giving consumers quick, direct, and usable vehicle information which enhances their auto buying experience. For more information on employment opportunities visit <a href="http://dealeruplink.com" target="_blank">www.DealerUplink.com</a>.</p>
<p>Media Contact:Hiedi Monteith Director of Communications</p>
<p>press@dealeruplink.com</p>
<p>877-483-7113 x724</p>
<p>Legal Contact: Lowther Johnson Attorneys at Law, LLC</p>
<p>Glenn P. Green</p>
<p>417-866-7777</p>Dos and Don'ts of using QR Codes in Automotive Marketing. Compliments of my Internet Marketing Specialist Erica!tag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-10-28:1970539:BlogPost:3299252011-10-28T20:47:35.000ZJessica Wolfhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/JessicaWolf
<p><a href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/nzFxSECgSyAhU46uOAeP9Mpr9o*hZfuazPnMkIw4518QDH97E1WE8ScKjCrdQ-vNy0UDpJb8Z7EO1hlS-nmIzj8drczLkCuf/ADMPQRCode.png" target="_self"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/nzFxSECgSyAhU46uOAeP9Mpr9o*hZfuazPnMkIw4518QDH97E1WE8ScKjCrdQ-vNy0UDpJb8Z7EO1hlS-nmIzj8drczLkCuf/ADMPQRCode.png" width="200"></img></a> <strong>Dos and Don’ts of using QR Codes.</strong><br></br> <br></br> QR Codes came out in 1994, however only in the past year have they become more popular and widely used. We can thank the smartphone explosion for that– there are now more smartphones sold than personal computers. 90% of people keep their phones within 3…</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/nzFxSECgSyAhU46uOAeP9Mpr9o*hZfuazPnMkIw4518QDH97E1WE8ScKjCrdQ-vNy0UDpJb8Z7EO1hlS-nmIzj8drczLkCuf/ADMPQRCode.png"><img width="200" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/nzFxSECgSyAhU46uOAeP9Mpr9o*hZfuazPnMkIw4518QDH97E1WE8ScKjCrdQ-vNy0UDpJb8Z7EO1hlS-nmIzj8drczLkCuf/ADMPQRCode.png" class="align-left"/></a><strong>Dos and Don’ts of using QR Codes.</strong><br/> <br/>
QR Codes came out in 1994, however only in the past year have they become more popular and widely used. We can thank the smartphone explosion for that– there are now more smartphones sold than personal computers. 90% of people keep their phones within 3 feet of themselves at all times! Now marketers are getting wise to the ease of use and customer-attraction provided by QR Codes. With all of this QR code snappin’ goin’ on, here are some important tips on how to use, and not use, QR Codes in your dealership’s marketing efforts:<br/>
<br/>
</p>
<p> </p>
<p><br/> <br/>
<strong>DO make your QR code = a bonus.</strong><br/>
<br/>
A QR code should provide a behind-the-scenes look, exclusive content or unique experience that your<br/>
audience can’t access anywhere else. Think added value: try a QR code on a window cling that links to a YouTube video of a walk around or test drive of the vehicle… offer your QR code as the key that unlocks the door to a deeper experience with the vehicle.<br/>
<br/>
<strong>DON’T use the QR Code to send people to your dealership’s home page.</strong><br/>
<br/>
Your website isn’t an add-on to your brand; it is part of your standard market presence. Also most<br/>
websites aren’t built with mobile browsing in mind. This makes them slow to load, hard to read,<br/>
and cumbersome to browse on a smartphone. To let people know about your dealership’s<br/>
website, just display the URL on your ads, marketing materials and vehicle stickers.<br/>
<br/>
<strong>DO use QR Codes on display signs and vehicle stickers.</strong><br/>
<br/>
Many car shoppers have their smartphones on them when browsing a dealership lot. So instead of<br/>
crowding your vehicle’s window sticker with information, use it for eye-grabbing and engaging brand messaging and highlight only the vehicle’s top features. Then include a QR code that directs shoppers to more extensive vehicle details on your website. This is especially handy for price changes; instead of re-writing hang tags or re-printing stickers you can send customers to your website for prices that are easier for you to change.<br/>
<br/>
<strong>DON’T replace your message with a QR Code.</strong> <br/>
<br/>
A QR code should augment your marketing message, not replace the content of your ad. Surround the QR code<br/>with clear and sufficient information so it’s not the only thing your audience sees. A good test is to ask yourself if viewers could still get the information they need to take the next step toward your marketing goal if the QR code were removed. Your ad speaks to your brand; the QR code simply enhances the experience.<br/>
<br/>
<strong>DO follow QR Code best practices.</strong> <br/>
<br/>
Print your QR Code in black and white on a white or soft pastel background. Print the code with a small border of white space around the outside. QR Codes should be at least 5/8” square for standard URLs. Use a URL shortener like tinyurl.com, bit.ly or goo.gl for longer URLs. Also try scanning your QR Code with different types of smartphones and different QR Code scanning applications before printing your code on your marketing material.<br/>
<br/>
<strong>DO include a clear “call to action”.</strong> <br/>
<br/>
People are more likely to scan your code if they know what they’re going to get in return. Give a short, inviting description of what your QR Code leads to, like “Get a Coupon Code for $50 worth of Free Accessories”, “Watch this Vehicle in Action” or “Sign Up for Our E-Newsletter”. People view their phones as highly personal devices and aren’t likely to randomly scan a QR code without some idea of where it will take them.<br/>
<br/>
Now that you’re a QR Code expert, you’re ready to print and scan away! QR Codes are a great way to grab attention and engage your target market. Once your audience is interacting with you and you have their undivided attention, you can provide them with innovative, thought-provoking information or experiences that will place your dealership and its vehicles more prominently in their mind’s eye. Best of all, creating a QR Code is free! The only limit is your imagination.<br/>
<br/>
Erica Lovestrand<br/>
Internet Marketing Specialist</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ans2wyDnVOthavv26VrbWVWXMQPZLf10itviJaEVkJkPR7KMy5w7x6lRhZws9wjAF6HoNP7PqKs0cUh*Belb1Fxvrsfe29BF/ericalovestrand.jpg"><img width="80" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/ans2wyDnVOthavv26VrbWVWXMQPZLf10itviJaEVkJkPR7KMy5w7x6lRhZws9wjAF6HoNP7PqKs0cUh*Belb1Fxvrsfe29BF/ericalovestrand.jpg" class="align-full"/></a></p>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.automotivedirectmailpros.com/dos-and-donts-for-using-qr-codes-in-automotive-marketing">http://www.automotivedirectmailpros.com/dos-and-donts-for-using-qr-codes-in-automotive-marketing</a></p>Creating a Trackable QR Codetag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-08-29:1970539:BlogPost:3083692011-08-29T19:18:12.000ZAli Amirrezvanihttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/AliAmirrezvani
<p>After writing my post on QR Codes Best Practices, I wanted to make sure those dealerships interested in starting a QR code marketing campaign knew to create QR codes in a way that will allow your dealership to track them through the Google Analytics on your <a href="http://www.dealeron.com/">car dealership website</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's how to create a QR code that is trackable by Google Analytics:</p>
<p> …</p>
<p></p>
<p>After writing my post on QR Codes Best Practices, I wanted to make sure those dealerships interested in starting a QR code marketing campaign knew to create QR codes in a way that will allow your dealership to track them through the Google Analytics on your <a href="http://www.dealeron.com/">car dealership website</a>.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Here's how to create a QR code that is trackable by Google Analytics:</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/jwDn9U-gsaqoz0JoE42aT-CFyP-WdYbhrUO1wNTNP27C*kNwTcN4JqwHWZsMcwfK29FHYdXaaynBvNbhV2HgUPfKGqaokdAg/QRCode.jpg"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/jwDn9U-gsaqoz0JoE42aT-CFyP-WdYbhrUO1wNTNP27C*kNwTcN4JqwHWZsMcwfK29FHYdXaaynBvNbhV2HgUPfKGqaokdAg/QRCode.jpg" height="243" width="243"/></a>First, make sure you are signed into Google (in the account that houses your dealership’s analytics).</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Next, go to the <a href="http://www.google.com/support/analytics/bin/answer.py?hl=en&amp;answer=55578">Google URL Builder</a>. Enter the URL that you would like the QR Code to link to. Choose "QR Code" for campaign source, and then choose your campaign medium and name. For example, if you're going to put the QR Code on window stickers for a Chevy Cruze, your Campaign Medium could be “Window Stickers” and the Campaign Name could be “2011 Chevy Cruze”. Once you’ve entered these fields, click Generate URL.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Copy the URL you've just created and go to <a href="http://goo.gl/">goo.gl</a>. Here, you'll shorten your newly created QR Code tracking URL, and click "Details" to generate the QR Code. By shortening the URL before generating the QR Code, you will make the QR code less dense, and therefore easier for your customers to scan. </p>
<p> </p>
<p>Now that you’ve created the QR Code, you can use the link that Google provides to put your QR Code graphic onto your site, or you can right click on the generated QR Code and click “Save Image As” to save it to your machine or servers. You are now ready to start tracking your QR code campaigns! Let me know if you’ve found other ways to effectively track your QR campaigns.</p>QR Code Marketing Best Practicestag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-08-26:1970539:BlogPost:3067822011-08-26T18:47:01.000ZAli Amirrezvanihttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/AliAmirrezvani
<p>Some of DealerOn's <a href="http://www.dealeron.com/car-dealer-websites/">car dealer website</a> customers are incorporating QR codes on their sites, though it remains a technology that’s still maturing. While others in the industry have debated the benefits of using QR codes as a part of your dealership’s marketing strategy, I wanted to share some tips for running a QR Code campaign if your dealership is going to test this technology.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Before you start any marketing…</p>
<p>Some of DealerOn's <a href="http://www.dealeron.com/car-dealer-websites/">car dealer website</a> customers are incorporating QR codes on their sites, though it remains a technology that’s still maturing. While others in the industry have debated the benefits of using QR codes as a part of your dealership’s marketing strategy, I wanted to share some tips for running a QR Code campaign if your dealership is going to test this technology.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Before you start any marketing campaign, including one using QR codes, it is essential that your dealership lays out your goals. What are the business or marketing objectives you hope to accomplish with the QR code campaign? For example, are you looking to increase your email list or increase traffic on your mobile website? If you don't determine what you're hoping to accomplish, you won't be able to tell whether or not the campaign is successful.<a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/H7wTFFsA5o2dGIaLxqf48vcB0*eSzFgJNKl714MnVTXwpuGsapoRoysTUIWoslHflLfauGLkdTtwt3UFLiy-4Wjrpa8Y4fyc/QRCodeOrange.jpg"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/H7wTFFsA5o2dGIaLxqf48vcB0*eSzFgJNKl714MnVTXwpuGsapoRoysTUIWoslHflLfauGLkdTtwt3UFLiy-4Wjrpa8Y4fyc/QRCodeOrange.jpg" height="247" width="247"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Make sure you test your QR code extensively. If someone tries to use your code and it doesn't work, it's similar to someone trying to click a broken link on your website. That user isn't likely to seek out that information elsewhere on your site...they will just move on to the next dealership. Make sure your codes are big enough, and have enough "clean" space around them. Test them where they will appear (on a window sticker, for example) to help ensure they can be read in the environment that your customers will be scanning them.</p>
<p> </p>
<p>Link the QR codes to a mobile landing page. I've written about the <a href="http://www.dealeron.com/blog/press-release/mobile-websites-conversion/">importance of having mobile dealership websites</a> before, but when you know people have to use their mobile phones to scan QR codes, it doesn't make any sense to send them to a traditional website page. These are just some basic best practices for QR codes. Have you used any other standard processes that you’d recommend for QR Code Marketing campaigns?</p>QR Code Users; Male, Young, Wealthytag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-08-16:1970539:BlogPost:3007862011-08-16T00:19:37.000ZRalph Pagliahttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/RalphPaglia
<h1>QR Code Scanners Skew Male, Young, Wealthy…</h1>
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<h1>QR Code Scanners Skew Male, Young, Wealthy</h1>
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<td><div id="___plusone_0"><a target="_blank" href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-code-scanners-skew-male-young-wealthy-18852/comscore-qr-audience-aug-2011jpg/"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 4px;" width="350" src="http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/comscore-qr-audience-aug-2011.thumbnail.JPG?width=350"/></a><span class="font-size-4">In June 2011, 14 million mobile users in the US, representing 6.2% of the total mobile audience, scanned a QR (quick response) code on their mobile device, <a href="http://www.comscore.com/Press_Events/Press_Releases/2011/8/14_Million_Americans_Scanned_QR_or_Bar_Codes_on_their_Mobile_Phones_in_June_2011">according to</a> an August 2011 study released by comScore MobiLens. The study found that a mobile user that scanned a QR code during the month was more likely to be male (60.5% of code scanning audience), skew toward ages 18-34 (53.4%) and have a household income of $100,000 or above (36.1%).</span></div>
<div><span class="font-size-4">In addition, 18-to-24-year-olds were 36% more likely than average to scan a QR code with a mobile device, and those with a household income of $75,000 but less than $100,000 were 18.6% more likely than average to scan QR codes.</span></div>
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<div class="entry"><p><span class="font-size-4">“For marketers, understanding which consumer segments scan QR codes, the source and location of these scans, and the resulting information delivered, is crucial in developing and deploying campaigns that successfully utilize QR codes to further brand engagement,” said Mark Donovan, comScore SVP of mobile.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4">Marketers interested in <a href="http://www.marketingvox.com/qr-codes-marketing-guide-049662/">learning more</a> about how QR codes have developed and can be used should check out ‘A Marketer’s Guide to QR Technology’ in MarketingCharts’ sister publication MarketingVox.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span class="font-size-5">Magazines, Newspapers Top QR Code Sources</span></strong></h2>
<p><a target="_blank" href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-code-scanners-skew-male-young-wealthy-18852/comscore-qr-source-aug-2011jpg/"><img class="align-left" style="padding: 4px;" width="350" src="http://www.marketingcharts.com/wp/wp-content/uploads/2011/08/comscore-qr-source-aug-2011.thumbnail.JPG?width=350"/></a><span class="font-size-4">The most popular source of a scanned QR code was a printed magazine or newspaper, with nearly half (49.4%) scanning QR codes from this source. Product packaging was the source of QR code scanning for 35.3% of the audience, while 27.4% scanned a code from a website on a PC and 23.5% scanned codes from a poster/flyer/kiosk.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4">Less popular printed sources included business card/brochure (13.4%), while 12.8% of QR code users scanning codes from a storefront. The least popular source tracked by comScore was TV, scanned by 11.7% of the QR code audience.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span class="font-size-5">Home Most Popular QR Code Location</span></strong></h2>
<p><span class="font-size-4">Among mobile users who scanned a QR code on their mobile devices in June, 58% did so from their home, while 39.4% did so from a retail store and 24.5% did so from a grocery store.</span></p>
<p><span class="font-size-4">In addition, nearly 20% scanned a QR code while at work, while 12.6% did so outside or on public transit and 7.6% did so while in a restaurant.</span></p>
<h2><strong><span class="font-size-5">ExactTarget: 1 in 4 Smartphone Owners Scan QR Codes</span></strong></h2>
<p><span class="font-size-4">About one in four (24%) US smartphone owners (10% of the overall online population) report having scanned a QR code or similar barcode to obtain more information about a product, business, or event, <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/texting-top-smartphone-activity-18152/">according to</a> a June 2011 report from ExactTarget.</span></p>
<p> </p>
<p>Source: <a href="http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-code-scanners-skew-male-young-wealthy-18852">http://www.marketingcharts.com/direct/qr-code-scanners-skew-male-young-wealthy-18852</a></p>
</div>QR Codes - Learn how your dealership can take advantage of this popular marketing trendtag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-08-03:1970539:BlogPost:2943672011-08-03T21:00:00.000ZAmanda S.http://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/AmandaS
<span class="messageBody"><br></br>
</span><br />
<p><span class="messageBody">Let technology speak for itself with the flexibility of a QR code promotion! Whether you're looking to motivate a customer to purchase, drive traffic to your location, or simply increase Web site inquiries, a QR code promotion can help. Consumers will scan a quick-response 2D bar code using their mobile device for a chance to win Free Fuel for Life and other big prizes. When you have a winner, SCA gives you the money to…</span></p>
<span class="messageBody"><br/>
</span><br />
<p><span class="messageBody">Let technology speak for itself with the flexibility of a QR code promotion! Whether you're looking to motivate a customer to purchase, drive traffic to your location, or simply increase Web site inquiries, a QR code promotion can help. Consumers will scan a quick-response 2D bar code using their mobile device for a chance to win Free Fuel for Life and other big prizes. When you have a winner, SCA gives you the money to award the prizes. </span></p>
<p><span class="messageBody"> </span></p>
<p><span class="messageBody">Demo a QR code promotion now. Simply scan this code with a smartphone, enter your phone number, and instantly see what you have won! <span class="font-size-4"><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/EcuyCKUotlvxQlTulPvXWg8eJmU*ALPhhPy2Ea8qgehLSyvpY-MNoxlfzM3KD1MtWhU6ATLxzDDAtN493B8pIYod2hQGXe4D/FreeFuelForLifeQRCode.jpg"><img src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/EcuyCKUotlvxQlTulPvXWg8eJmU*ALPhhPy2Ea8qgehLSyvpY-MNoxlfzM3KD1MtWhU6ATLxzDDAtN493B8pIYod2hQGXe4D/FreeFuelForLifeQRCode.jpg" class="align-center" width="246"/></a></span></span></p>
<p><b> </b></p>
<p>Don't have a QR reader? Search "QR reader" in your mobile device's application store to get your QR reader now. May not be available on all devices. Go to <a href="http://www.scapromotions.com/fuelqr">www.scapromotions.com/fuelqr</a> if you do not have a smartphone. </p>
<p><span class="messageBody"> </span></p>
<p><span class="messageBody"><span class="messageBody">To learn more about this and other big prize promotions from SCA visit us online at <a href="http://www.scapromotions.com">www.scapromotions.com</a>, call us at 888-860-3770 or e-mail us at <a href="mailto:scainfo@scapromo.com">scainfo@scapromo.com</a></span></span></p>How QR Codes Can Grow Your Salestag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-07-09:1970539:BlogPost:2854712011-07-09T00:07:55.000ZDmitriy Goroshinhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/DmitriyGoroshin
<p>Have you ever heard of a QR code? What exactly is it, and how can it help your business? Keep reading to find out.</p>
<p><br></br>Quick Response codes (QR codes) and other two-dimensional codes are experiencing widespread use across the country and globe – and for good reason. Consumers want immediate access to relevant information and QR codes are being used to make that possible.</p>
<p><br></br><strong>QR Codes 101</strong></p>
<p><br></br>If you’re new to the QR code world, they’re similar to the…</p>
<p>Have you ever heard of a QR code? What exactly is it, and how can it help your business? Keep reading to find out.</p>
<p><br/>Quick Response codes (QR codes) and other two-dimensional codes are experiencing widespread use across the country and globe – and for good reason. Consumers want immediate access to relevant information and QR codes are being used to make that possible.</p>
<p><br/><strong>QR Codes 101</strong></p>
<p><br/>If you’re new to the QR code world, they’re similar to the barcodes used by retailers to track inventory and price products at the point of sale. The key difference between the two is the amount of data they can hold or share. Bar codes are linear, one-dimensional codes that can only hold up to 20 numerical digits. QR codes are two-dimensional (2D) matrix barcodes that can hold thousands of alphanumeric characters of information. Their ability to hold more information and their ease of use makes them practical for small businesses. The ability of QR codes to connect people with each other and to also link them with multimedia digital content is very useful for businesses and consumers alike.</p>
<p><br/><strong>How Will QR Codes Engage your Customers?</strong></p>
<p><br/>QR code apps are already available for iPhones, Androids, Blackberry and other leading mobile platforms, and some mobile manufacturers are offering native QR code reading software for mobile camera phones. The barcode is essentially a two dimensional matrix of black modules arranged within a square framework with white background and can contain your businesses URL, discounts, promotions as text, images or embedded features.</p>
<p> </p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/7zI6Pw6jS*hHx8Fd-FXvSuFPmBA9cbPHbXxum96Fh4GqjpZJbL*FmpSUoM3KAYkyf6mkgOa4Lhf1dnzaMEAnMtOPJPwDGYbc/KernersvilleChrysleriTunes.png"><img class="align-right" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/7zI6Pw6jS*hHx8Fd-FXvSuFPmBA9cbPHbXxum96Fh4GqjpZJbL*FmpSUoM3KAYkyf6mkgOa4Lhf1dnzaMEAnMtOPJPwDGYbc/KernersvilleChrysleriTunes.png?width=100" width="100"/></a></p>
<p><br/>You’re probably wondering how this technology can help your business. Well, most people nowadays do much of their research and shopping online, which is now done largely with smartphones such as the iPhone, iPad, and Android devices. Multichoice Apps can create a custom QR code for your business that users of these devices can scan with their camera-enabled phones and link them directly to your website or any media that you choose! All they have to do is scan your QR code and they will be linked to your website or taken directly to your application page in the Apple App Store or Android Market where they can instantly download and install it. There’s no need to tell people to go scour the app stores and look for you – you can bring them to you in seconds with a simple scan!</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/rGSp7lLoFP5QAFNc1lcWs*HcAIRtcuij5LfkmkyPA4tbB9dOByU1pt9MJ23pRPgnBQYsZvHmpNYlrvT8DBNrVdsp3XUPa8bh/SavannahToyotaiTunes.png"><img class="align-left" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/rGSp7lLoFP5QAFNc1lcWs*HcAIRtcuij5LfkmkyPA4tbB9dOByU1pt9MJ23pRPgnBQYsZvHmpNYlrvT8DBNrVdsp3XUPa8bh/SavannahToyotaiTunes.png?width=100" width="100"/></a></p>
<p> </p>
<p>We can make this technology available for you to use and also explain to you more how it will benefit your business. Contact Multichoice Apps today at <a href="http://www.MultichoiceApps.com">www.MultichoiceApps.com</a> and we can get started today!</p>SMS VS QR codestag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-06-13:1970539:BlogPost:2802272011-06-13T17:46:37.000ZJulia Spivakhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/Julia
<p>We hear it a lot – “Wouldn’t it be better to use a QR code rather than a text message call-to-action?<br></br>QR codes are so cool!”<br></br>It’s easy to get sucked into the “whiz-bang” factor of QR codes, but before you start printing them everywhere, let’s put SMS and QR codes head-to-head for 5 rounds. Ding ding ding!<br></br><span>Audience size</span><br></br>SMS marketing targets the largest audience of mobile phones users – those who know how to send a text message. Nearly every phone in the Canada…</p>
<p>We hear it a lot – “Wouldn’t it be better to use a QR code rather than a text message call-to-action?<br/>QR codes are so cool!”<br/>It’s easy to get sucked into the “whiz-bang” factor of QR codes, but before you start printing them everywhere, let’s put SMS and QR codes head-to-head for 5 rounds. Ding ding ding!<br/><span>Audience size</span><br/>SMS marketing targets the largest audience of mobile phones users – those who know how to send a text message. Nearly every phone in the Canada is text message capable, and more than 72% of adults use SMS. When a mobile marketing campaign uses SMS as the call-to-action it’s making that campaign available to the largest audience possible.<br/>According to early research, less than 10% of smartphone users understand or have used a QR code. Because only 35% of mobile phone users have smartphones, in a group of 100 people less than 3 people will know how to scan. This compares to 80-90 who will know how to text. Obviously, starting with an audience that small will make it difficult to generate great numbers from a campaign.<br/>SMS: 1 | QR: 0<br/><span>Mobile Marketing Database</span><br/>Usually the goal of an SMS marketing campaign is to not only to create an interaction when the user has only their phone, but also to build an opt-in database for future messages. Being able to instantly reach your audience through a text message on their phone is extremely valuable.<br/>With QR codes you’re creating a scan-able shortcut to some piece of content — website, video, download, etc. You will be unable to store any information and further communicate with that user. If you have any desire to communicate with this audience in the future this is a huge downside of QR codes.<br/>SMS: 2 | QR: 0</p>
<p>Ease of Use</p>
<p>Text messaging is something nearly everyone understands now. You click the app or menu item on your phone, enter the address and message, and click send. The campaign response comes back in seconds giving you a web link, promotion code, or confirmation message (any content that can be delivered through a QR code).<br/>If you’ve never tried to scan a QR code it’s worth doing just so you can understand what’s involved. First let’s assume you haven’t done this before. You’ll need to go to your smartphone’s app store, search for a QR code reader app, download, and install. Then you’ll need to launch the app and try to fit the QR code into the designated space on your phone’s screen using your camera. If you get too close to the code the camera will lose focus and you’ll need to move back. Hold still now because it needs a good 2 seconds to finish the scan. After scanning the app will ask you if you want to complete the action embedded in the code. For example – “Do you want to follow this link in your browser?” You click “Yes” and you’re finally on your way to the content…if you’ve stuck with it this long.<br/>SMS: 3 | QR: 0<br/><span>Viral Potentia</span>l<br/>With a great SMS campaign, there’s always the very good likelihood people will pass around the keyword and shortcode telling their friends to “text SOMETHING to 73363.” This can be done via SMS, Facebook, email, and even the good old fashioned phone, dramatically increasing the results and reaching new audiences.<br/>A QR code can not be easily passed to another person. Sure, you may be able to take a picture of it and email it to someone so they can scan from their computer’s screen (assuming the picture is clear enough), but who’s going to go through all that trouble? It just doesn’t happen.<br/>SMS: 4 | QR: 0<br/><span>“Whiz-Bang” Factor</span><br/>Text messaging has been popular for years now. It’s become the “email” of our phones. Everyone sends it and everyone gets it.<br/>QR codes are new, interesting, geeky, and high-tech. The first time you see one work it seems like magic. It’s easy to forget the factors above and let that emotion drive you to launching your next campaign with QR codes. “Anything this cool will really take-off!” If your audience is super-geeky (maybe you’re selling USB-powered Stars Wars figurines at a computer fair?) the high-tech nature of QR codes could work to your advantage. However, an overwhelming majority of businesses and organizations will always get better results from SMS marketing. Also, like we mentioned above, QR codes can always be setup to quickly create a text message when scanned, giving you the best of both worlds when the “whiz-bang” factor is useful.<br/>SMS: 4 | QR: 1<br/>After 5 rounds the judges’ decision is unanimous. SMS is crowned champion of the mobile marketing call-to-action.</p>
<p>What do you think?</p>
<p>Keep in mind there are a few situations where QR codes simply won’t work. Radio is an obvious one, but also television. It’s impractical to try and leave a QR code up on screen long enough for someone to get out there phone and try to scan it. Another instance where QR codes won’t work is a sign in high-traffic areas. Advertising is commonly placed where the most people are driving by, but that is usually the worst place to stop and scan something with your phone.</p>
<p>However, all of these scenarios have been used in the past to successfully promote SMS marketing campaigns.</p>
<p><a target="_self" href="http://api.ning.com:80/files/u3PNU1edhjrGAWxHqtOg8t2jgStBBALVe*fwtgreSdV-St*SqxaexSnO2Bzkf*QXY4*0w6Y85eyECRuNBB-9ZHuno8lX*Gbw/QRpic.png"><img class="align-right" width="251" src="http://api.ning.com:80/files/u3PNU1edhjrGAWxHqtOg8t2jgStBBALVe*fwtgreSdV-St*SqxaexSnO2Bzkf*QXY4*0w6Y85eyECRuNBB-9ZHuno8lX*Gbw/QRpic.png"/></a></p>QR Codes vs SMS marketingtag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-06-08:1970539:BlogPost:2794122011-06-08T05:13:56.000ZJulia Spivakhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/Julia
Here are some great points comparing Text message marketing vs QR codes: <a href="http://txt2seeme.com/uncategorized/sms-marketing-vs-qr-codes/">http://txt2seeme.com/uncategorized/sms-marketing-vs-qr-codes/</a>
Here are some great points comparing Text message marketing vs QR codes: <a href="http://txt2seeme.com/uncategorized/sms-marketing-vs-qr-codes/">http://txt2seeme.com/uncategorized/sms-marketing-vs-qr-codes/</a>QR Code advertising in print media - Real World Resultstag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-04-05:1970539:BlogPost:2592142011-04-05T02:01:29.000ZSteve Camphttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/SteveCamp
<p>I am half way through my six week QR code print advertising experiment. I wanted to post my results to date and make adjustments based on forum input. So please let me know your thoughts.</p>
<p>61% - Unique QR Searches</p>
<p>30% - Unique Telephone Calls</p>
<p>9% - Unique URL Referrals</p>
<p>Here’s the scenario; I placed a QR code in my local newspaper (Chicago Tribune) advertising. The Chicago market is still very strong for print media and it makes up about 33% of my advertising…</p>
<p>I am half way through my six week QR code print advertising experiment. I wanted to post my results to date and make adjustments based on forum input. So please let me know your thoughts.</p>
<p>61% - Unique QR Searches</p>
<p>30% - Unique Telephone Calls</p>
<p>9% - Unique URL Referrals</p>
<p>Here’s the scenario; I placed a QR code in my local newspaper (Chicago Tribune) advertising. The Chicago market is still very strong for print media and it makes up about 33% of my advertising budget. I titled the QR code “What our customers say about us” and linked the QR code (via bit.ly) to our Presto Reviews reputation management website. I decided to compare the QR code search results to my unique telephone and URL tracking components on the same advertisement.</p>Why thinking 2-dimensional makes suddenly more sense than just thinking out of the boxtag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2011-03-31:1970539:BlogPost:2588682011-03-31T19:25:55.000ZVJhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/VJ
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Good news for early adapters in our so beloved automobile industry. When you are one of the pioneers using in your ads, Maroni stickers, or even on Business cards the two-dimensional barcode like images – a.k.a. quick-response codes or in short QR-Codes – you past the stage of prior “thinking out of the box” with flying colors.</span></span><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> …</p>
<span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Good news for early adapters in our so beloved automobile industry. When you are one of the pioneers using in your ads, Maroni stickers, or even on Business cards the two-dimensional barcode like images – a.k.a. quick-response codes or in short QR-Codes – you past the stage of prior “thinking out of the box” with flying colors.</span></span><br />
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"> </p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">As you know adaptable smartphone apps are able to scan and then convert the code into a picture ad or other information you would love to share with your potential clients.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Advantage for the consumer: <strong>Recalling “what was shown or said in an ad” with a push of a button.</strong></span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Advantage for us dealerships: <strong>Unlimited "air" time - 24/7/365</strong> <br/>
</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The MGH group conducted a survey to see how consumers are adapting to the “new” technology, which is actually now out for more than a year. Here is the great news and opportunity for us dealers:</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;">Almost 75% of smartphone users are very likely or at least somewhat intrigued to recall advertising and marketing messages with QR codes</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">Awareness among smartphone users rose to 65% (have seen a QR Code)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">56% recognized the two-dimensional images on product packaging</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">45% recalled to have seen them on magazines and (<strong>ATTENTION PLEASE</strong>) on coupons</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">And more than a quarter of the users saw the QR’s in newspaper ads (i<em>s your dealership still doing off-line advertising in your local newspaper? If so “jam” a QR code into your ads!</em>)</li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><strong><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">So, the question here is “what did the smartphone users use their code for?”</span></span></strong></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The top-3 contenders are: <br/>
</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">53% want to find coupons or discounts on their products or services they want to obtain from a business</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">52% want more product or service information (<em>did your OEM already convert their new car price stickers and show the QR code? You should check because it is on almost every manufacturers agenda to “put it out there”</em>)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">33% just scanning it to have the opportunity to win in sweepstakes</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">The rest of usage reasons are: accessing videos, making actually purchases, signing up to receive more information and last but not least interacting with social media networks.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">One of the more important reflections of the survey</span></span> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">(especially from the business owner standpoint)</span></span><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">, which was held in February 2010 via the Vision Critical America panel, is showing an indisputable fact and a huge opportunity for everyone who wants to play in this “QR league”.</span></span></p>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">70% of the</span></span> <span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">first time QR code users and those who used it already having following motivation to do so:</span></span></p>
<ul>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They want to find deals and/or discounts (87% !!!)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;">They want to play and enter into sweepstakes (64%)</li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They want to have access to more information (63%)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They actually are ready to purchase right away (60%)</span></span></li>
<li style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">They enter their information into your database to receive more information from you on the products or services you offer (53% - <em>here comes the good old permission based email marketing in my mind</em>)</span></span></li>
</ul>
<p class="MsoNormal" style="text-align: justify;"><span style="font-size: 12px;"><span style="font-family: arial,helvetica,sans-serif;">So, I hope I provided you with some brain teasers to make you even more think if and when you should join the “QR-force” and get your business another (two-dimensional) platform. In my opinion, this should be a no-brainer for you.</span></span></p>QR Codes for Automotive Text Message Marketing Campaignstag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2010-12-17:1970539:BlogPost:2314282010-12-17T19:29:24.000ZPaul Potratzhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/PaulPotratz
<p>QR Codes for Automotive Text Message Marketing Campaigns<br></br> <br></br> Text Message Marketing with QR Codes</p>
<p><br></br>Text Message Marketing is a great way for an Automotive Dealership to promote inventory and service to your valued customers. Much like E-Mail Marketing, Text Message Marketing requires customers to opt in before they are given updates from your Dealership. Starting a Text Message Marketing Campaign for your dealership is a bit easier when using a QR Code.</p>
<p><br></br>QR Codes…</p>
<p>QR Codes for Automotive Text Message Marketing Campaigns<br/> <br/> Text Message Marketing with QR Codes</p>
<p><br/>Text Message Marketing is a great way for an Automotive Dealership to promote inventory and service to your valued customers. Much like E-Mail Marketing, Text Message Marketing requires customers to opt in before they are given updates from your Dealership. Starting a Text Message Marketing Campaign for your dealership is a bit easier when using a QR Code.</p>
<p><br/>QR Codes can do more for your dealership than just driving traffic to the website. In order for a customer to opt in to joining a Text Message List they first need to text a keyword to a short code. You could put your dealership’s short code and keyword in a print advertisement, or you could plug all of those details directly into a QR Code.</p>
<p><br/>A QR Code can store your dealership’s short code as well as the keyword the customers need to text to join the Text Message List. All of this information is stored in the QR Code and is then loaded into the phone when read with a QR Reader. This makes joining your dealership’s Text Message List that much easier.</p>
<p><br/>Once your dealership has a Short Code and Keyword loaded into a QR Code you can promote your dealership’s Text Message Updates in print advertisement as well as interactive marketing materials. This will help to build your dealerships Text Message Database exponentially and shape up your Automotive Mobile Advertising.</p>
<p><br/>PAUL POTRATZ</p>Start Using QR Codes at your Dealershiptag:www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com,2010-11-17:1970539:BlogPost:2268002010-11-17T19:16:45.000ZPaul Potratzhttp://www.automotivedigitalmarketing.com/profile/PaulPotratz
<p style="text-align: center;">How Your Dealership Can Start Using QR Codes to Drive Traffic</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://exclusivelyautomotive.com/sitemap/contact-us/"><br></br></a></p>
<p><a href="http://exclusivelyautomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ppadv1.png"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3419" height="300" src="http://exclusivelyautomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ppadv1-300x300.png" title="ppadv" width="300"></img></a></p>
<p><br></br></p>
<p>There are countless ways to integrate QR Codes into your Dealerships Automotive Marketing Campaigns. QR stands for Quick Response and they are essentially a two…</p>
<p style="text-align: center;">How Your Dealership Can Start Using QR Codes to Drive Traffic</p>
<p style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://exclusivelyautomotive.com/sitemap/contact-us/"><br/></a></p>
<p><a href="http://exclusivelyautomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ppadv1.png"><img alt="" class="alignleft size-medium wp-image-3419" src="http://exclusivelyautomotive.com/wp-content/uploads/2010/11/ppadv1-300x300.png" title="ppadv" height="300" width="300"/></a></p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>There are countless ways to integrate QR Codes into your Dealerships Automotive Marketing Campaigns. QR stands for Quick Response and they are essentially a two dimensional
barcode that pack a lot of information in a little black and white box.<br />
Most phones have applications capable of reading QR Codes that can be<br />
used to link potential car buyers to a digital and interactive space.</p>
<p>Car dealers can put QR Codes on virtually anything. As long as the image is
still and can be read by a QR reader you can put a QR code on it. Below<br />
are five ways your dealership can start using QR Codes to drive<br />
traffic.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>1. Point of Sale Materials – Put a QR Code on a Lot Banner to link Customers on the Lot to your Dealerships New or Used Car
Specials</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>2. Repair Order Fliers – Get feedback from your customers on your service department by linking a QR Code to an interactive
survey</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>3. Newspaper Ads – Place a QR Code in this weeks ad and link it to your dealerships video testimonial page.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>4. Direct Mail Pieces – Get an entire zip code to come into your dealership to read the QR Code that they got in the mail.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>5. Business Cards – Link your customers directly to your personal contact
information by including a QR Code on your Business Card.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>Maybe not EVERYONE knows what a QR Code is or how to use one. But as Smart Phones increase in popularity and apps become more accessible it can be
advantageous for your dealership to get out ahead of the marketing<br />
curve. Feel free to contact us for more ideas as to how your dealership<br />
can implement QR Codes in your dealerships interactive marketing.</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p>We encourage you to follow the QR Code at the top of this post if you're
looking for some more ways to integrate QR Codes into your Car<br />
Advertising Campaigns. <br/>
</p>
<p><br/></p>
<p><a href="http://www.ppadv.com/">Paul Potratz</a></p>